I stare hard at Mom. “What is tomorrow?”
She looks down at the bowl. “Just a couple of tests.”
I straighten up and near her. “What kind of tests?”
“It’s nothing?—”
“Tell me! Are you dying? Do you have can—” my voice cracks before I can utter that word.Cancer.It isn’t hard to say that word in my head, but saying it out loud is a different story—that makes it real and I don’t want real.
Mom pales and she erases the distance between us and holds my hand. “No! I’m fine. I don’t have cancer. I’m not dying. I promise, I’m alright, Heath.”
“You promise?” I croak out, watching her eyes closely.
She nods. “Yes. I’m okay.”
“Then what kind of tests do you have tomorrow?”
She hesitates for a moment. “A blood test to see if I have anemia.”
“Is that serious?”
She nods. “It is, but I can treat it with medicine and diet.”
“Are you sure, that is all?”
“Yes.”
I don’t feel relieved. Worry slithers into my heart and makes a fucking home alongside Emery’s.
I hate that I’m worried for my mother. But I don’t want to lose her.
I make a mental note to look into it on Google.
My eyes narrow on her as I ask, “If I find out that you’re lying to me, I’ll stop speaking to you.”
She squeezes my hand that I haven’t pulled away. “I’m not lying.”
I nod and slowly pull my hand away.
“Are you hungry? There are leftovers that I can heat up.” She suggests, not paying attention to her blueberry muffins.
“I’ve already eaten.” Marie ordered pizza and overfed me. Sometimes, I forget how persuasive she can be.
“Right,” she murmurs. “I made Grilled salmon with rice and steamed broccoli.”
“I hate broccoli,” I reply.
She beams at me. “You do? Me too. But your dad likes so I just put it in there.”
“I also hate spinach.”
“But I saw you putting it into your milkshake the other day.”
I move toward the cupboard and take out a glass and fill it with water. After taking a sip, I answer, “Doesn’t mean I don’t fucking hate it. I have to take it because it’s important for muscles and overall health.”
Mom watches me in wonder. “I had no idea.”
“In the past year or so, I’ve started taking care of myself.”
